In spite of announcing two enquiries into the affair, David Cameron came under fierce cross-party pressure to freeze the News Corp bid for BSkyB. But officials said the deal was expected to be waved through, possibly while MPs are on their summer holidays. The government mounted a frantic search for a way to postpone a decision until the furore over phone hacking subsides, but the legal advice was that any long delay could be challenged in the courts.

In spite of announcing two enquiries into the affair, David Cameron came under fierce cross-party pressure to freeze the News Corp bid for BSkyB. But officials said the deal was expected to be waved through, possibly while MPs are on their summer holidays. The government mounted a frantic search for a way to postpone a decision until the furore over phone hacking subsides, but the legal advice was that any long delay could be challenged in the courts.